Paul Ryan on His Father's Private Battle, Family, and 'House of Cards'

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When Mitt Romney chose Paul Ryan to be his running mate in 2012, the most dramatic detail in the potential veep’s biography was the tragic loss of his father when Ryan was just 16. In his new book, The Way Forward, the Wisconsin congressman reveals for the first time how the elder Ryan struggled with alcohol. “I adored my dad,” says Ryan. “But I learned about what alcoholism can do to the person you love. You don’t want it to happen to you.” In an interview with Andy Abrahams, Ryan, 44, also discusses losing the 2012 election and whether he’ll make his own White House bid.

PARADE: Why talk about your father’s drinking now?

It’s just something I chose not to think about for many years. He was a very kind, smart man. But at the end of his life, this got the better of him. The irony is that he was worried about having a heart attack like his dad. So his health stress got to him and [drinking] was one of his coping mechanisms. And it wasn’t the right one.

Your kids weren’t thrilled at the idea of moving to D.C.

You know, it was a hard sell for Charlie. Liza understood the bigger picture and Sam is a really happy kid. They loved riding on the buses, and hotels with pools, and seeing the whole country. Sam would go back and talk to the media and do little impromptu press conferences.

Family time: The Ryans in Wisconsin in 2012 with (from left) Charlie, now 11, Janna, 45, Liza, 12, and Sam, 9 (Photo by Jason Mielke)

How hard was the loss for them?

They became invested in the campaign … but they were happy to get back to the routine.

And for you …

It’s really hard to deal with a loss like that. What bothered me was I knew in great detail what the first 200 days of a Romney administration would look like. Then to lose and watch the Obama administration go in an entirely different direction was very dispiriting. But you can’t sulk for long.

Why didn’t you seek the role of House majority leader when Rep. Eric Cantor lost his recent primary? Do you have your eyes on a bigger prize?

In elected leadership, you’re expected to travel on weekends, stumping for colleagues. I’m already away [from home] four days a week when we’re in session; I’m not going to make it seven. As for the other issue [about a White House run], my wife, Janna, and I know that bridge doesn’t have to be crossed till next year.

Your House budget calls for steep cuts in social programs, and Democrats accuse you of being hostile to the poor.

I reject that notion. Look, the status quo isn’t working. We need to reform our poverty programs. We’re going to have a debt crisis in this country if we keep spending money we don’t have. That’s just being honest with people and a lot of folks don’t want to hear that. What I try to articulate [in my book] is a society-centered philosophy for America, versus what I would call a government-centered philosophy. And I think it requires the public and private sectors and charities working in harmony with one another, pulling in the same way, as a team.

After you spend the week sleeping on a foldaway bed in your office, what’s a typical Ryan family weekend in Janesville, Wis.?

I make breakfast—pancakes, usually. Then we have sports events—the boys are playing softball now. Sunday mornings, we go to 9:45 Mass, and if the kids are good, they get to go to Dunkin’ Donuts afterwards. We’ll go fish for bluegill and bass sometimes.

You’re a bow hunter. Aren’t Liza and Charlie now hunters, too?

We went hunting right after the election, and it was one of the most cathartic experiences, taking Liza out and seeing her shoot her first deer on opening day! Charlie got an eight pointer. It’s a good family tradition I’m glad to pass on to my kids.

Do you watch political shows like House of Cards?

I watched the first couple of episodes until he cheated on his wife with that reporter. It turned my stomach so much that I just couldn’t watch it anymore. His behavior was so reprehensible, and it hit too close to home because he was a House member, that it just bothered me too much. And what I thought is, it makes us all look like we’re like that.